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In an exclusive interview with NPR, U.S. President Barack Obama says Republicans are in a position to “responsibly govern” when they take control of both houses of Congress in January. Gavino Garay reports.

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In an exclusive interview with NPR, U.S. President Barack Obama says that when Republicans take change of both houses of Congress next year, it will offer the party a chance to govern.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:
"Now you've got Republicans in a position where it's not enough for them simply to grind the wheels of Congress to a halt and then blame me. They are going to be in a position in which they have to show that they can responsibly govern, given that they have significant majorities in both chambers."
NPR's Steve Inskeep makes the case for Republicans.
NPR'S STEVE INSKEEP SAYING:
"I think that if a Republican lawmaker was sitting here, he might say, 'Wait a minute. I'm not captive to nativist elements. I have actual concerns and you're not addressing them.'"
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:
"Well, the problem is what are those concerns and -- and how is it that I'm not addressing them? If -- if the concern is border security, we've got more resources, more border police, more money being spent at our borders than any time in the last 30, 40 years. If the concern is the flow of illegal workers into the country, that flow is about half of what it was and is lower than any time since the 1970s."
The new Congress convenes in January, when both houses will be controlled by Republicans.

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